Page 17 of Never and Always
“He told me to leave. If you weren’t here I’d be on the street.” She wiped at the tears that ran down hercheek.
Nick wanted to tell her things wouldn’t have gotten that far, but he didn’t think he could. Glenn looked serious, and probably would have doneit.
“I could still be on the street.” She sucked in abreath.
“I wouldn’t let that happen to you.” Hesmiled.
“He might throw you out, too. Then we’d both beoutside.”
He laughed at that, because from the way Glenn looked Nick didn’t doubt the possibility, but if it happened he’d becool.
“Sounds like the perfect chance to get that gingerbread house we talked about years ago.” He was trying to cheer her up, but it didn’t work. She frowned at him, knitting her perfect brows together and pursing herlips.
“You still think of me as a child.” She said it with a sort of disappointment that showed a slight hint ofhurt.
“No.” He shook hishead.
“Gingerbread house, Nick? Like Hansel and Gretel.” She frowned evenmore.
“Hey, I’m doing my best here. If Glenn throws us into the street, I’d definitely take an edible house over…” He was stilltrying.
“Over a regularone?”
“Not so much. It’s cool, though, right?” He smiled down at her and there it was, the smile he’d been waitingfor.
It was faint and brief, but there. The smile spread across her pink lips and reached her eyes. She sat up and adjusted herself so she could hug her knees to herchest.
“Thank you,” shebreathed.
He shuffled over so that he was closer to her. “I haven’t done anythingyet.”
“You always stop him from really ripping into me when he getsmad.”
“I don’t like him shouting atyou.”
Even though her face was blotchy from her tears, her cheeks still warmed into a blush. “Thank you, I don’t have anybody who looks out for me likethat.”
“I’ll always take care of you, Mia.” Maybe that sounded too forward, but on account of the fact that he always did look out for her he thought it was okay tosay.
“Thank you, but…you shouldn’t have to.” She wiped away freshtears.
“Whynot?”
“Because I really messed up big time. You must think I’m stupid, too. I should have shown better judgement. I just didn’t think Alan would do that to me. He took care of everything right from the start. I knew him for years, and he helped me build my business into what itwas.”
Nick didn’t bother to tell her that Alan was most probably grooming her. That was standard with con artists. They’d get to know their victims, get them to trust them, and then strike when all defenses were down. The length of time she’d known the guy told Nick that he would have been stealing from her long before she noticedanything.
“Unfortunately, that’s how guys like that work,” heoffered.
“And I practically hadstupidstamped on my forehead.” Shewinced.
“No, he could have done it toanyone.”
“I just wish that it wasn’t me.” She wiped her tears. “I feel like such a fool. I feel like he looked at me like I was some dumb blonde with no sense. The richprincess.”
“Mia, you can’t feel thatway.”
“I can’t help it. I moved to Florida to get away from here. I wanted to show everyone that I could be successful by myself. My family looks at me like I’m a lost cause; I wanted to show them that I could take care of myself and that my ideas for how I wanted to live my lifework.”
